Young people throw eggs at moving carts – that’s what’s behind it!

Young people throw eggs at moving carts – that’s what’s behind it!

On Friday evening, October 31st, an incident happened on Krauchenwieser Straße, near the Danube Bridge, that brought the behavior of young people into focus. At around 9:18 p.m., a 44-year-old driver reported via the emergency call that a group of around seven young people had thrown objects at his moving vehicle. According to all-in.de, the consequences were visible: scratches in the car paint and a dent on the passenger door reduced the value of the vehicle by around 500 euros.

After the injured party reported the incident, an acquaintance of the driver intervened. He followed the young people to a nearby barbecue area, where the police were already waiting. An initial interview with the young people revealed that one of them admitted to throwing an egg at the car. The age range of the young people was between 15 and 17 years and they are known by name. Nevertheless, further investigations into the exact circumstances of the crime are necessary.

Focus on juvenile crime

This incident is part of a larger problem: juvenile crime in Germany has increased worryingly in recent years. According to Statista, there were around 13,800 cases of youth violence in 2024 - a peak that is more than twice as high as in 2016. Young people between the ages of 14 and 17 as well as adolescents up to the age of 20 are particularly affected.

Interestingly, the Federal Criminal Police Office showed that the increase in youth violence is linked to psychological stress as a result of the Corona measures and risk factors among young people seeking protection. Although the number of young suspects fell by around 6 percent overall in 2024, the reality is different for many in this age group. Men in particular are disproportionately involved in crime statistics, which could also be due to traditional role models and hormonal changes.

Prevention and intervention are required

The discussion about the effectiveness of harsher sanctions in the juvenile justice system is increasing. This is an important issue given the increasing number of juvenile crimes. Experts are calling for increased prevention, particularly through child and youth welfare, in order to prevent criminal careers from developing at an early stage. It could certainly be argued that Friday's incident is not just a one-off event, but rather a symptom of a deeper problem plaguing society.

At a time when more and more young people are becoming involved in conflict, such incidents are a wake-up call. It is important to focus on the causes and find solutions that support both young people and society as a whole.